February 18, 2022
by Amal Mansour
Why do we fast?
We all know In Islam, fasting is one of the five pillars. During the holy and blessed month of Ramadan, which occurs on the ninth month of the lunar-Islamic calendar, we fast for 30 days. We fast as an act of worship, a chance to get closer to Allah, and a way to become more compassionate to those in need.
Allah (swt) says in the Quran:
“O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you— so perhaps you will become mindful of Allah”. (2:183)
Another word for “being mindful” is known as “ taqwa”. Taqwa is being conscious of Allah, aware and attentive to moral and spiritual duties, and to avoid the forbidden. When we find ourselves mindful of Allah SWT, by meeting our obligations to him (swt), we will find him in-front of us. When we find Allah (swt) in front of us, it means that Allah (swt) will be with us in all our affairs. He (swt) will support us, protect us, guide us, and strengthen us in our actions. This is the type of closeness and relationship we want with Allah SWT.
Fasting is also seen as a way to learn patience and break bad habits. Thus, fasting is an obligatory and essential practice. According to the Qur’an, healthy Muslims are instructed to do fasting in Ramadan. Fasting, or Sawm, literally means abstinence from food, drink, sexual activities and smoking from sunrise to sunset. The main purpose of fasting for Muslims is to
Purify the soul
Teach self-discipline
To sympathize with the poor and hungry people
To develop self-control.
While fasting is understood by Muslims as being a mandatory for all healthy Muslims, in the Qur’an there are exemptions for some people, particularly if it is potentially harmful to their health. The Islamic rules are very clear about the exemption from fasting for certain groups of people, which include:
The children
Sick people
Menstruating women